Articles & Case Studies

Stabilising Works for Greensforge Sailing Club

Posted: Monday 6th August 2018

Based at Calf Heath Reservoir in Staffordshire, Greensforge Sailing Club was facing problems of weathering and water erosion to its mooring and terracing. To ensure that visitors and club members could continue to use the facilities safely, The Rothen Group, a national independent civil engineering and maintenance service, was chosen to complete40 metres of bank stabilisation works, including a new concrete walkway to allow safe access for launching the sailing dinghies.

Analysing the problem

The popular Greensforge Sailing Club (GSC) is a friendly sailing destination, used and well loved by the local community, so when the club's mooring and terracing started to show signs of serious erosion attributed to years of environmental wear and tear, the club needed to take action.

At first, repeated basic repairs were undertaken by the club to try to control the increasingly exposed slabbed frontage, which was a potential slipping hazard, but the same problems arose time and time again. In order to find a more permanent solution to the problem, GSC approached Veolia Environmental Trust to seek funding for professional repairs to the 40 metres of mooring frontage, comprising shuttering and a new walkway, repairs to the terrace and walkway in front of the clubhouse and a new disabled access ramp.

Ian Cooper, Principal and Trustee of GSC commented: "The project was put to tender, and The Rothen Group was one of three contractors we spoke to about the necessary repair and maintenance works. The Rothen Group's flexibility and understanding of the club and our needs, in addition to the Group's solutions-based approach and ability to provide us with a complete end-to-end service using sophisticated plant machinery and experienced operators, meant that we were more than happy to encourage Veolia to accept them to do the work."

The project

The funding application was granted by Veolia, and work commenced in November 2016 for two weeks. Using a specialist marine-ready mini digger and piling hammer, The Rothen Group installed the sheet piles from the bankside.

Ian Rothen, Founder of The Rothen Group, commented on the plant equipment used: "This type of piling hammer is ideal for the hard ground conditions canal side and ensured the shuttering went in vertically. It also uses biodegradable hydraulic oil, so GSC and its local community could be assured that no exhaust gas or oil would be emitted from the machinery into the reservoir."

2018 Maintenance works

The Rothen Group returned to GSC in summer 2018 after being requested to complete a second phase of reparations. Similar in nature, the job involved replacing 30 metres of frontage along the dinghy park.

Ian Cooper added, "The end result from phase one to now has been spot on for what was required. Importantly, we know that the long-term viability of the club is assured and that The Rothen Group are on-hand should we need them. We are very happy that we can continue to promote sailing in a safe and enjoyable environment, something that wouldn't have been possible without the necessary works.

"The works have rejuvenated the club. We have seen an increase in membership, and have people visiting the club again after a period of absence. RYA officials, instructors and inspectors have all commented favourably on the improvements that have been made and we look forward to welcoming The Rothen Group back for more maintenance work in the future."